[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 114 (Tuesday, September 13, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H7829-H7830]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK BOUNDARY REVISION ACT OF 2005

  Mr. FORTUNO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 276) to revise the boundary of the Wind Cave National 
Park in the State of South Dakota.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                 S. 276

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Wind Cave National Park 
     Boundary Revision Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Wind 
     Cave National Park Boundary Revision'', numbered 108/80,030, 
     and dated June 2002.
       (2) Park.--The term ``Park'' means the Wind Cave National 
     Park in the State.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (4) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of South 
     Dakota.

     SEC. 3. LAND ACQUISITION.

       (a) Authority.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary may acquire the land or 
     interest in land described in subsection (b)(1) for addition 
     to the Park.
       (2) Means.--An acquisition of land under paragraph (1) may 
     be made by donation, purchase from a willing seller with 
     donated or appropriated funds, or exchange.
       (b) Boundary.--

[[Page H7830]]

       (1) Map and acreage.--The land referred to in subsection 
     (a)(1) shall consist of approximately 5,675 acres, as 
     generally depicted on the map.
       (2) Availability of map.--The map shall be on file and 
     available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of 
     the National Park Service.
       (3) Revision.--The boundary of the Park shall be adjusted 
     to reflect the acquisition of land under subsection (a)(1).

     SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer any land 
     acquired under section 3(a)(1) as part of the Park in 
     accordance with laws (including regulations) applicable to 
     the Park.
       (b) Transfer of Administrative Jurisdiction.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall transfer from the 
     Director of the Bureau of Land Management to the Director of 
     the National Park Service administrative jurisdiction over 
     the land described in paragraph (2).
       (2) Map and acreage.--The land referred to in paragraph (1) 
     consists of the approximately 80 acres of land identified on 
     the map as ``Bureau of Land Management land''.

     SEC. 5. GRAZING.

       (a) Grazing Permitted.--Subject to any permits or leases in 
     existence as of the date of acquisition, the Secretary may 
     permit the continuation of livestock grazing on land acquired 
     under section 3(a)(1).
       (b) Limitation.--Grazing under subsection (a) shall be at 
     not more than the level existing on the date on which the 
     land is acquired under section 3(a)(1).
       (c) Purchase of Permit or Lease.--The Secretary may 
     purchase the outstanding portion of a grazing permit or lease 
     on any land acquired under section 3(a)(1).
       (d) Termination of Leases or Permits.--The Secretary may 
     accept the voluntary termination of a permit or lease for 
     grazing on any acquired land.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Puerto Rico (Mr. Fortuno) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands 
(Mrs. Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Fortuno).


                             General Leave

  Mr. FORTUNO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on S. 276, the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Puerto Rico?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FORTUNO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  S. 276, introduced by Senators Tim Johnson and John Thune of South 
Dakota, is the companion bill to H.R. 546, introduced by the 
gentlewoman from South Dakota (Ms. Herseth), my committee colleague.
  S. 276 would authorize the expansion of Wind Cave National Park 
located in the famous Black Hills of South Dakota. The boundary 
adjustment would allow for the protection of such archaeological sites 
as a 1,000-year-old buffalo jump.
  I urge adoption of the bill.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, as the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Fortuno) of the 
majority has explained, S. 276 will further the purposes of Wind Cave 
National Park by enabling significant lands to be added to the national 
park.
  This bill, S. 276, is the Senate companion measure to the bill H.R. 
456 introduced by the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Ms. Herseth), my 
colleague on the Committee on Resources. The gentlewoman from South 
Dakota (Ms. Herseth) is to be commended for her leadership on this 
important legislative initiative which will add lands to the park that 
will protect archaeological sites, enhance the viewshed, and preserve 
prairie and forest lands that are natural extensions of the existing 
park.
  Since coming to Congress, the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Ms. 
Herseth) has been a strong advocate for these additions to the park, 
and we are pleased to see her work coming to fruition today.
  Madam Speaker, S. 276 will help advance the preservation and 
interpretation of Wind Cave National Park, and we support adoption of 
the legislation by the House today.
  Ms. HERSETH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Wind Cave 
National Park Boundary Revision Act of 2005.
  Wind Cave National Park is one of our Nation's oldest national parks 
and one of the jewels in our national park system. Established over 100 
years ago, Wind Cave was the first cave in the world to be set aside as 
a national park. At the turn of the 20th century, its first explorers 
reported that the cave was only three miles long. Well, that report was 
a little off. Today, we know that the cave has over 117 miles of mapped 
tunnels and explorers are still discovering new passages. This makes it 
the fifth largest cave in the world.
  These passages contain many natural treasures--rare and exceptional 
displays of box work, a honeycomb-shaped formation that protrudes from 
the cave's ceilings and walls, as well as other rare cave formations, 
and a geology that scientists are still working to understand. Past 
Congresses recognized the value of these treasures by creating the 
park; our ability to enjoy them today is a testament to their 
foresight.
  With over 28,000 acres today, the park's surface is an impressive 
asset as well. The Wind Cave National Park Boundary Revision act would 
expand this stewardship to include an additional 5,000 acres of mixed 
grass prairie, ponderosa pine forest, and a dramatic river canyon. Home 
to native wildlife such as bison, elk, pronghorn, mule deer, coyotes, 
and prairie dogs, the park is one of the few remaining mixed-grass 
ecosystems in the country. The expansion would be a natural extension 
of this habitat and enhance the park's holdings.
  This project began when the ranching family that owns the land 
approached the National Parks Service over 3 years ago. The Black Hills 
region of South Dakota is developing rapidly and, rather than allow the 
land to be developed into subdivisions and strip malls, they envisioned 
preserving it for future generations. That initial discussion expanded 
to the surrounding community, State government, and eventually, the 
United States Congress. The bill's passage in the Senate and its 
consideration here today are the fruits of those discussions.
  In addition to receiving support in the House of Representatives from 
my two predecessors and myself, this bill enjoys the bipartisan backing 
of the South Dakota Senate delegation and South Dakota Governor Mike 
Rounds. As the expansion project has proceeded, interested parties have 
weighed in with their concerns and they have been answered.
  Wind Cave National Park has protected and preserved a national 
treasure for over 100 years. The Wind Cave National Park Boundary 
Revision Act is a unique opportunity to expand the park and enhance its 
value to the public so that visitors can enjoy it forever. It is my 
hope that my colleagues will support the expansion of this park and 
vote in favor of this important legislation.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FORTUNO. Madam Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Fortuno) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 276.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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